Chauncey Rose PIETY farmed his whole life except for an adventure “prospecting without his family for one winter in the west. He did not like the outlook and returned to his family and located at West York, Illinois, for awhile, and then moved northwest of Graysville, Sullivan County, Indiana, where he lived until his death at the age of sixty-eight.”[1a]

Rev. Chauncey Roscoe PIETY’s grandfather, John D. (Early) PIETY (1831-1906), “had a conscientious bent for religion. During his young manhood he heard some preaching by the ‘Campbellites’ or Disciples. After much thought he decided that their teachings were right and that he wanted to join them. Some of his kinsfolk in Knox County, Indiana, sent him word that they were having a revival and wanted him to come. He told of how he rode horseback from his home some forty or fifty miles to attend these services, where he joined the church. A little later a Christian Church was built at Prairie Creek, [where Early lived], which he attended. He was always loyal to his church and always read the Christian Standard.”[1b]

That his grandpa Early’s “conscientious bent for religion” influenced grandson Chauncey Roscoe to go into the ministry, seems likely.

By the 1910 U.S. Federal Census of IL, Crawford Co., Oblong, Chauncey Roscoe PIETY’s occupation is noted as “preacher.” His Sept. 12, 1918, World War I Draft Registration Card shows the medium height & build, gray-eyed, brown-haired C. R.’s occupation as minister of a church in Scottsburg, IN.[3] Throughout the 1920 U.S. Federal Census of IN, Starke Co., Knox; the 1925 IA State Census, Dallas Co., Waukee; 1930 U.S. Federal Census, IL, Carroll Co., Flora Town; and 1940 U.S. Federal of IL, McDonough Co., Blandinsville, C. R.’s occupation is listed as minister or pastor.[4]

The Antioch Christian Church of Cantrall, IL, also lists C. R. PIETY among “Ministers who have served the church as pastors.”[5]

Per the Lincoln Christian College and Seminary website, Chauncey R. PIETY’s first song was published by Hackleman Music Company in 1914, but they neglect to give that first song’s name.

1917 “A LOT O LOVIN’ (POEMS),” CHAUNCEY R. PIETY. (Archive.org)

One of Rev. C. R. Piety’s poems, “A Song To The Sangamon” was featured in the April, 1915, issue of Munsey’s Magazine.[6] The poem was also included in Rev. C.R.’s 1917 book of poetry, “A Lot O’ Lovin’.”

I would so like to see a photo of Rev. C. R., but search as I did across the vast net — and I’m a pretty good finder of what’s out there if I do say so myself 😉 — alas & alack I found zip. Camera-shy man?… So, if any Piety descendants read this and have an image of the good reverend to share, I would be delighted to see it.

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Footnotes

1 MORGAN, Walter Piety, “A Partial History Of James Duncan PIETY His Forebears And Descendants 1796-1948” (Unknown, 1948), at